Electrically-operated timing apparatus



E. W. GENT.

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED TIMING APPARATUS.

' APPLICATION FILED JAN- 2 .192]- 1,391,947.

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ELECTRICALLY OPERATED TIMING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29. 1921.

1,391,947, PatentedSept. 27,1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. W. GENT. ELECTRICALLY OPERATED TIMING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN- 29, I921.

Patented Sept 27, 1921 3 SHEETS-SHEETjQ 2 WW 6/71 W 1 s- I a s The inventionwill be more clearly under- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR w. GENT, E NEW YORK, N. ASSIGNOR TO WESTERNEEEOTEIG COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A'CCBPORATION OF N W YORK.

ELECTRlICALLY-OTPERATED TIMING APIVARA'IYUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept, 27, 1921.

Application filed January 29, 1921 Serial No. 441,091.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR W. GENT, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of New York, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrically-Open ated Timing Apparatus, of which the fol- I lowing is a full, clear, concise, and exact de scription.

This invention relates to timing devices and more particularly to a device for timing the duration of an electrical impulse or series of such impulses.

Its Object is a device which will be automatically set in motion by an initial electris cal impulse, which will be automatically stopped upon the receipt of the last impu lse of a series and which will give a direct indication of the elapsed time between the initial and final impulse or between the beginning and the end of the impulse period.

The invention in the form herein disclosed, is adapted to the timing of a series of current impulses such as are produced by impulse transmitters employed in automatic telephone. exchange systems. preferred form it comprises a device having y a natural period of motion, as for example, a

torsion pendulum which is electromagnetically released for operation by the initial impulse of a series.

After release the I pendulum swings through a definite arc depending upon its natural period of motion and is automatiseries to be measured takes place. A scale carried by the pendulum gives a direct indication of the are through which the pendulum has rotated and may be calibrated from the time constant of the moving system .to give a direct indication of the elapsed time between the firstand lastimpulse of the sestood from a consideration of the drawings,

in which'Figure 1 is a frontelevatiompart in plan, and partin section, of the device inits preferred form; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2'-+2 of Fig. 1, showing in detail the construction of the rotatable mass; Fig. 3 is a sectional view, taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, showing in detail-the transfer cam, the restorer arm, and

In its cally stopped when the last impulse of they its associated parts, and the spring pileup;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the stepping magnet; Fig. 5 is a sectionalview showing.

the preferred method of making the suspension wire ,fast to the rotatable. mass; and

Fig. 6 shows the circuit connections of the ap aratus. g

n. the preferred form of the invention, there is provided a frame 1 supportingthe protecting tubes 2. A protecting metal sheet 8, supported on the frame 1, serves as a covering. Within the two metaltubes 4,

. fastened to the frame 1 in any approved manner, extends the suspension wire 6, being held taut by means of studs 7 to caps 9. Cap

9 at the upper end of the apparatus is held immovable by means ofthe screw 5.. A rotatable mass 10 is centrally supported by the suspension wire 6, as at 11, in such a way that the wire is made fast tothe mass at this. point. Two guidingv or alinement members 12, preferably of brass, project in Fig. 5, and serve'to insure the alinement of the suspension wire 6. The scale 13 ismarked off on the mass 10 as hereinafter described, and the pointer 14,.mounted on the frame 1 is adapted to indicate the pulse rate of the apparatus on test. A tension spring 15serves to exert a tension on the sliding head 9, the pin 8 of which is adapted to move in the slot 16; this head or cap thus exerts atension on the supension wire 6 at all times.

. The upper-portion of the scale is laid out in degrees and the lower portion, which is associated with it, indicates thepulse rate number on the scale is 5, in Order for the instrument to show a rate of five impulses per second, it would be necessary for the mass, to swing the full 180 degrees from the. normal position. The time interval forsuch.

a swing is 1.8 seconds, which is obtained by multiplying .2 seconds, this being the time for one, impulse, by nine, as the instrument actually measures nine complete impulses,

sincethe tester is set into motion upon the. opening of the first impulse, and is stopped by the opening of the tenth impulse. The

from the mass 10 as is'shown more clearly lower scale is then laid out with the aid of the upper scale in accordance with the law of harmonic motion.

The stepping magnet 17 is provided with a commutator 18, and a brush 19 adapted to engage any one of four open segments 20 of the said commutator; a ratchet wheel 21 is also provided together with its associated stop pawl 22, and driving pawl 23, whereby the commutator 18 will be stepped around with the ratchet wheel 21.

Associated with the stepping relay is the transfer cam 24 which may be rotated by means of the restorer handle 25 which moves through the slot 26 in the base 1. A restorer arm 27, adapted to engage with the restorer pin 28 carried by the rotatable mass 10, terminates in the lever 29 which also supports the restorer handle 25; the lever 29 carries a spring 30 adapted to engage either of the two open segments 31 in the transfer cam 24, by means of which the said cam may be rotated during the setting operation, as is more clearly shown in Fig. 3. The spring member 32 of the transfer spring pile-up 33 is adapted to engage the cam 24 in such a way that as the cam is rotated, a contact will be made which will close the stop magnet circuit.

The stop magnet 34 is provided with an armature 35 upon which is mounted a stop pawl 36 which is adapted to engage the toothed edge of the rotatable mass 10 to control the motion of the said mass. The mass 10 is provided with a pair of counter-balance weights 37 and an adjusting screw 38 for adjusting the position of these weights. Thus, by means of this screw, the counterbalance weights may be adjusted to give the rotatable mass the desired number of swings per minute.

A window 39 is positioned in the outer cover 3 so that the scale 13 may easily be read when the cover is in place.

The operation of the timing device may be more clearly understood by referring to Fig. 6: The apparatus inclosed in the square A forms no part of the present invention, but consists of a dial 43 in circuit with any approved stepping relay, and its associated apparatus. When it is desired to test the dial, the instrument is first set at normal by moving the lever 29, by means of the handle 25, 180 degrees from the normal position, and then restoring it to normal. As this is done, the spring member 32 of the spring pile-up 33 is pressed upward by the surface of the cam 24 to make with its associated contact. This closes the stepping magnet circuit, and the commutator 18 will automatically be stepped around by the ratchet 21, and its associated pawl 23 until one of the four open segments 20 falls below the brush 19 before the handle 25 has been rotated the forward 180 degrees. As the brush 19 forms a contact in any open segment 20, the stop magnet circuit will be closed, the armature 35 will be attracted by the magnet 34, and the stop pawl 36 will release the mass 10, permitting the said mass to rotate. The restorer arm 27 will engage the restorer pin 28 of the rotatable mass 10, forcing the mass to the desired position. At the end of the forward 180 degrees, the transfer spring 32 is operated, opening the stop-magnet circuit, and allowing the armature 35 to fall back and cause the stop 36 to engage the teeth of the mass, bringing it to rest. Handle 25 is now restored to normal and the indicator is set to receive a. series of impulses from a dial which may be located near at hand or in the subscribers station. The dial 43 will be operated to dial ten impulses, the key 44 having first been closed so that the pulse relay 45 and its associated relay 46 may be operated by the incoming pulses. At the opening of the first impulse, the relay 45 will be energized, attracting the armature 47 thereby causing the relay 46 to be energized. The relay 45 will immediately be deenergized at the end of the first impulse, but the relay 46, being of the slow release type, re mains energized long enough to attract the armature 48, causing the stepping magnet circuit to open, thereby notching around the commutator 18 one tooth and closing the circuit through the commutator and the stop magnet, releasing the stop on the mass and permitting the mass to swing. The set of incoming impulses causes the stepper to step correspondingly and the opening of the tenth pulse causes the commutator to be stepped to an open segment 20, opening the stop magnet thereby stopping the moving mass. The pointer 14 will then indicate on the scale the pulse rate per second of the dial 43.

Vhat is claimed is:

1. In a timing device, an oscillatory mass having a predetermined period of 0s cillation, means for storing energy in said device, electromagnetic means for releasing said mass to permit free movement thereof, electromagnetic means for stopping said mass, and means carried by said mass for giving a direct indication of the elapsed time between said starting and stopping.

2. A device for timing a series of'electrical impulses comprising an oscillatory mass having a predetermined period of motion, means for storing energy in said device, means responsive to the initiated impulse of a series for releasing said mass and permitting its free motion, means responding upon the cessation of said series of impulses for stopping the movement of said mass, and means on said device for indicating the length of the time interval between said initial impulse and the cessation of impulses.

3. A device for timing a series of electrical impulses comprising an oscillatory mass having a predetermined natural period of motion, means for storing energy in said mass, a release magnet responsive to the initial impulse of the series for releasing said mass and permitting its free movement, means acting upon the cessation of impulses to arrest the motion of said mass, a scale carried by said mass and a pointer cooperating therewith to give a direct indication of the length of the time intervalbetween the said initial and final impulses.

4. In a device for timinga series of eleotrical impulses, atorsion pendulum comprising an oscillatory mass and suspension means therefor, means for placing said suspension means under an initial torsional tension, a

serrated disk carried by said mass, an elec tromagnet, a holding pawl controlled thereby and cooperating with said serrated disk to hold said mass in its deflected position or to arrest the motion of said mass, a second electromagnet and circuit connections therefor whereby the second electromagnet is made to respond to the impulses to be measured, a step-by-step mechanism operated by said second electromagnet, a commutator operated thereby for causing the energization of said first mentioned electromagnet upon the initiation of a series of impulses and permitting the pendulum to swing upon receipt of the first impulse of a series, and for deenergizing said first mentioned electromagnet and stopping the pendulum upon the receipt of the last impulse of a series, and means carried by said pendulum for indicating the time duration of said series of impulses.

5. In a device for timing a series of electrical impulses, a length of wire under tension, a mass supported by said wire and normally held against rotation, means operated by the first impulse of a series to release said mass to permit free movement thereof, and means acting at the end of said series to stop said mass.

6. In a device for timing a series of electrical impulses, a length of wire under tension, a mass supported by said wire, a catch member to prevent rotation of said mass, and means automatically controlling said catch member whereby said mass will be released and allowed to swing at the first of a series of impulses, and stopped at the last impulse of said series.

7. In a device for timing a series of electrical impulses, a time recording mechanism,

a catch member to prevent the operation of said mechanism, a stepping magnet operated by said electrical impulses, and a stop magnet controlled by said stepping magnet to operate said catch member at the first and last of said series of impulses to respectively start and stop said time recording mechanism.

8. In a device for timing a series of electrical impulses, a length of wire under tension, a rotatable mass supported by said wire, a catch member to prevent rotation of said mass, a stop magnet adapted to control said catch member, and a stepping magnet for operating said stop magnet at the first and last of said series of impulses to respectively start and stop said mass.

9. In a device for timing a series of electrical impulses, a length of wire under ten sion, 3, mass supported by said wire and normally held against rotation, a catch pin mounted on said mass, a restorer member adapted to engage said catch pin to rotate said mass, and means whereby the operation of said restorer member will automatically serve to release said mass to rotate with said restorer member and cause said mass to stop in a position set to receive a series of incoming electrical impulses.

10. In a device for timing a series of electrical impulses, a length of wire under tension, a mass supported by said wire, a stop magnet adapted normally to hold said mass against rotation, a stepping magnet adapted to control said stop magnet, and means whereby the stepping magnet will step in accordance with the impulses of the impulse EDGAR W. GENT. 

